We are redoing an 87C51FB design with the 87C51MC2, which is readilly available from DigiKey. The problem is, the -MC2 is an OTP part, and we have a lot of code development to do yet. This is going to kill off a lot of parts before the coding is finished. So, we identified a FLASH part for this, the AT89C51RE2SLSUM, a PLCC44 part, which should do the job nicely.
BUT, after a week of fruitless search, the -RE2 is proving nearly impossible to find. Even Atmel won't supply samples, they refer us to DigiKey. DKey doesn't have any, and they require a minimum order of hundreds, as does everyone else who doesn't have them in stock. We found one distributor who would sell us just two for a premium price, but they're stock is in Hong Kong, so charge $200 shipping! Another distributor will supply two or three, but they won't have any until mid-July!
So I come here in the hopes someone can either suggest a known source with stock in the US or who can sell us a couple out of their stock, right here, right now. We will pay a premium, of course, within reason.
Thanks for your attention, kenjj
it will take something supplying an undeniable advantage to make him leave his comfort zone he might not take my word for it, but an ICE is "an undeniable advantage" for development and there is no need to "leave his comfort zone" in order to buy an ICE. The end result is the same (you do not do final test with the ICE plugged in)
Erik